Bangladesh Court Opens Murder Probe Against Sheikh Hasina, Top Officials Over Man Killed In Police Firing

Bangladesh's court has launched a murder investigation against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and six officials for the police killing of a civilian during the recent quota protests.

File Photo of former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina

Source : PTI

A court in Bangladesh has initiated a murder investigation against ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and six senior figures from her administration. The probe centres around the police killing of a man during last month's civil unrest. Sheikh Hasina, 76, fled to neighbouring India by helicopter a week ago as protesters swarmed the streets of Dhaka, marking a dramatic end to her rule.

According to news agency AFP, Mamun Mia, a lawyer representing a private citizen, confirmed the development, stating, "A case has been filed against Sheikh Hasina and six more." He further mentioned that the Dhaka Metropolitan Court had instructed the police to accept the "murder case against the accused persons," which is the initial phase of a criminal investigation under Bangladeshi law.

The individuals named in the court filing include former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Obaidul Quader, the general secretary of Hasina's Awami League party, AFP reported. Additionally, four senior police officers appointed during Hasina's tenure, who have since vacated their posts, were also named. These officers include former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, Detective Branch Chief Harun-or-Rashid, and senior Dhaka Metropolitan Police officers Habibur Rahman and Biplob Kumar Sarker.

First Case Against Ex-Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina After Ouster

According to a report by Dhaka Tribune, a Bangladesh daily, the case was filed by Amir Hamza Shatil, a resident of Mohammadpur and a well-wisher of the victim, Abu Said. Said, who owned a grocery shop, was killed in police firing during a procession supporting the quota reform movement in Bosila. Hamza, who volunteered to file the case as a concerned citizen, stated that although he was not a close friend of Said, he felt compelled to seek justice on behalf of the victim's family, who reside in Panchagarh’s Boda Upazila and are unable to pursue legal action themselves.

This marks the first case filed against Sheikh Hasina, who fled Bangladesh on August 5 following widespread protests over the deaths of citizens during the quota reform movement. On Monday, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud urged victims of the quota reform movement to file cases against the perpetrators across the country, Dhaka Tribune reported.